Winnipeg Jets

WYMAN’S GAME REPORT: Jets come out flat in first game after break

Winnipeg Jets' Brandon Tanev, left, and Philadelphia Flyers' Wayne Simmonds chase after the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Ted Wyman

Published: January 28, 2019 - 11:17 PM

Updated: January 29, 2019 - 6:54 AM

PHILADELPHIA — Before Monday’s game against the bottom-feeding Philadelphia Flyers, Winnipeg Jets centre Adam Lowry made a point of noting that having games in hand on other teams doesn’t do you any good if you don’t win them.

The Jets, looking to reclaim sole possession of first place in the Central Division, missed a great chance to make good on one of those games in hand when they had a sluggish performance in a 3-1 loss to the Flyers.

The Jets were simply not sharp in their passing, their puck-handling, their shooting. Passes went into skates or over sticks, there were bobbles at the blue-line and shooters were a split-second slow in getting the shot away, which led to blocks, pucks over the glass and easy saves for Flyers rookie Carter Hart.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 28: Carter Hart #79 of the Philadelphia Flyers stops a shot by the Winnipeg Jets in the first period at Wells Fargo Center on January 28, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The Jets looked rusty and a step slow and the result was a second straight loss, bookending their eight-day break due to the bye week and all-star break.

“No traffic in front. The Grade A (shots) we had (Hart) made some big saves but we didn’t really didn’t do a whole lot. I mean they were rusty, too, coming off the break. We just didn’t play a particularly good game tonight.”

The Jets fell to 31-16-2 on the season and remain tied with the Nashville Predators for first place in the Central Division with 64 points. They will play again in Boston, against a Bruins team that is also coming off a bye week.

They now have three games in hand on the Predators and will make up two more of those with Tuesday’s game and another at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.

Realizing how good of an opportunity they have to put some distance between themselves and the Predators, the Jets looked fast and loose in practice Sunday and again during Monday’s game day skate.

But they didn’t in Monday’s game.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 28: Blake Wheeler #26 of the Winnipeg Jets takes the puck as Sean Couturier #14 of the Philadelphia Flyers defends at Wells Fargo Center on January 28, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

“We were less direct than we needed to be tonight,” Jets coach Paul Maurice said. “We didn’t execute very well with the puck for sure. We got bogged down in the neutral zone by our own decisions.”

The game might have been different if the Jets had been able to score on a power play in the final minute of the first period. They moved the puck well and generated five shots on the power play, including three great chances that were stopped by Hart.

The Jets couldn’t duplicate that offence in the rest of the game and the Flyers started to take over.

“Our first power play I loved,” Maurice said. “We had three A chances in a minute. I was pleased with that but we weren’t quite as strong with the puck after.”

The Flyers got a goal from fourth-liner Phil Varone midway through the second to open the scoring and took a 2-1 lead into the third period thanks to a nice deflection goal by Travis Konecny.

The Jets got a deflection goal of their own, on a second period power play, by Jack Roslovic. It was Winnipeg’s first power play goal on the road in 25 chances and ended an 0-for-11 run overall.

James Van Riemsdyk scored late in the third period to salt the game away for the Flyers.

Hart finished with 31 saves, while Jets backup Laurent Brossoit stopped 28 shots in a losing cause. Brossoit lost a start for the first time this season.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 28: Jack Roslovic #28 of the Winnipeg Jets and Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers fight for the puck in the third period at Wells Fargo Center on January 28, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Winnipeg Jets 3-1. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The Jets top line of Wheeler, Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor generated very little offence at 5-on-5 and the second line of Bryan Little, Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic wasn’t much better. Wheeler and Scheifele looked tired after playing in the All-Star Game Saturday and flying across the country, via Winnipeg, to play in Philly Monday.

“I wouldn’t say it was an overly crisp game overall,” Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey said. “I don’t want to make excuses after the break.

“Obviously, both teams kind of felt it out in the first period. They kind of got going and got some momentum. But yeah, one of those games. You have to turn the page, cause we play right again (Tuesday) night, a great team in Boston.”

Before the game Maurice cautioned about people feeling too comfortable with the Jets situation just because they are in first place now.

When asked about the games in hand they have, Maurice essentially dismissed their importance.

“We haven’t spoken of the standings once this year and we won’t do that,” he said. “We’ve got 64 points. That will keep you out of the playoffs by probably 36. So you’re nowhere near what you need to get to.”

Judging by their last two games — a 4-2 loss to Dallas and the 3-1 loss to the Flyers — he has it exactly right.

FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED

Ted Wyman’s takeaways from Monday’s game in Philadelphia

The power play can score

The Jets, once one of the most dangerous teams in the league with the man advantage, finally got a power-play goal on Monday night. It came with the second power-play unit on the ice and came on a deflection of a Jacob Trouba points shot by Jack Roslovic. That ended an 0-for-11 stretch for the Jets and an 0-for-24 stretch on the road. The Jets generated eight shots on goal on their three power plays, including five on one in the first period and that pleased head coach Paul Maurice.

Looking rusty

The Jets looked like a team that had just had eight days away from the rink. Players were in Mexico and other southern climes, and the two best players — Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler — were at the all-star game. They both looked tired and ineffective and the team as a whole looked sluggish. There were no excuses though, as the Flyers were also coming off a bye week.

Brossoit loses one

Backup goalie Laurent Brossoit lost for the first time this season in a game that he started. Brossoit is now 10-2-1 on the season but his other loss came in a relief effort. Brossoit wasn’t to blame for the loss. The first goal came on a rebound after the puck changed direction in front of him, the second on a great high tip in the slot and the third on a terrific passing play by the Flyers. He was outplayed by rookie Carter Hart in the Flyers net. Hart made 31 saves, to Brossoit’s 28.

Two losses in a row

The Jets won a huge game on Jan. 17 in Nashville, beating the Predators 5-1 in a first-place showdown, but they haven’t won since. They lost to Dallas on Jan. 19, then had eight days off before losing to the Flyers, who have an unimpressive 20-23-6 record overall but have won four straight. The Jets will need to get their legs back under them first and foremost as they have looked sluggish and sloppy for the last two games.

Lots of work ahead

Blake Wheeler had a simple answer at the ready when asked how he plans to manage a busy game schedule over the next couple of months: “I’m going to bust my ass.” The Jets will play 33 games in the next 68 days and eight games in the next 14 days and, as they found out against the Flyers, nothing is going to come easily. They’re going to have to bust their asses a lot more than they did on Monday.

ALL-STAR FAMILY TIME

For Wheeler, the most memorable parts of the recent all-star festivities were the memories it created for his young son Louie.

The annual game has become a family affair for the players and coaches who are selected to play and that made the whole thing special for Wheeler.

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 24: Blake Wheeler of the Winnipeg Jets waves to the crowd during the 2019 NHL All-Star Media Day on January 24, 2019 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

“Just the time with family,” Wheeler said Monday, when asked to name a highlight or two of the experience. “It seems like every year you’re away from them more and more. It’s probably a product of them growing up a little bit. I got to spend some really quality time with my family. Louie pretty much took part in the entire experience and those are memories he’s going to have for a lifetime.”

Wheeler was joined in San Jose by his linemate Mark Scheifele and head coach Paul Maurice.

Scheifele said he enjoyed himself thoroughly and couldn’t pick out one or two highlights.

“The whole thing, honestly,” Scheifele said. “There wasn’t one specific thing, it was the entire experience. All three days were a blast.

“It was awesome. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it. I had a blast with my parents and it’s something I’ll always remember, for sure.”

BAD VIBES FROM BUILDING

Brendan Lemieux played at Wells Fargo Center for the first time Monday night but it wasn’t his first time in the building.

The last time he wasn’t too happy.

“I was drafted here,” Lemieux said. “I had to sit through the first round and I remember how miserable that was. I had to wait to come back Saturday morning. So I’ve got some memories here and I’m not too fond of all of them.”

Lemieux was eventually taken with the first pick of the second round by the Buffalo Sabres in 2014 and was later traded to the Jets as part of the Evander Kane deal.

WEISE DONE WITH FLYERS

Winnipegger Dale Weise has been sent to the minors by the Flyers and is not part of their future plans.

Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said Monday the team is trying to find a team to take the 30-year-old Weise in a trade, but for now he has been sent to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL after clearing NHL waivers.

Weise had five goals and six assists in 42 games this season, his ninth in the NHL.

“Dale’s not going to be a part of this going forward, so we’ll try to find him another team to go to,” Fletcher said. “I spoke to him again (Sunday), and once the American League all-atar break’s over, he’ll report to Lehigh, and he’s obviously hungry to get playing, and to find a situation that’s better for himself.”

PATRICK ON THE RISE

Fletcher also talked about another Winnipegger — Nolan Patrick, the centre who was drafted second overall by the Flyers in 2016.

Patrick got off to a slow start this season but has scored four goals in the last three games, all wins for the Flyers.

The 20-year-old had nine goals and eight heading into Monday’s game, while playing mostly on the third line.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 28: Nolan Patrick #19 of the Philadelphia Flyers and Patrik Laine #29 of the Winnipeg Jets fight for the puck in the second period at Wells Fargo Center on January 28, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

“With Nolan Patrick, I really like what I’ve seen in the last month,” Fletcher said. “I know he scored some goals right before the break but, even before that, he was moving his feet and was playing very well on both sides of the puck. You can see him with his head up, carrying the puck through the middle of the ice and playing with confidence. Everyone can see that. He’s a big man and highly skilled, so he’s hard to handle. Nolan Patrick is going to be a very big part of our team moving ahead.”

CHIAROT READY TO RETURN

Maurice said defenceman Ben Chiarot could play Tuesday in Boston. That would mean either rookie Sami Niku or veteran Joe Morrow could come out of the lineup.

Chiarot skated Sunday and Monday and felt good.

“If he comes back tomorrow and he feels that good, we’ll watch the game (Monday) and see how we feel about it,” Maurice said. “Every day that we get a bit more rest with him, it’s a positive, but he’s in the window now that we’d have no problem playing him. I just didn’t want that break off an injury and back-to-back games.”